A Tree or Shrub With Red Leaves & Small Pink Flowers

by Linsay Evans

Some plum cultivars have red or purple foliage.

In the sea of green foliage that characterizes most gardens, a flash of red leaves creates a welcome contrast. Red-leaved trees or shrubs that bloom with small, pink flowers add even more visual interest to the landscape. Some trees and shrubs have red new growth or green leaves that turn red in fall, while others keep their red color throughout the growing season. Choose colorful shrubs with cultural requirements that match the conditions in your planting site.

Dogwoods

Several dogwood cultivars have red leaves and pink flowers. The "Pink Flame" flowering dogwood (Cornus florida "Pink Flame") has red, white and green leaves that turn red in autumn. This 25-foot tree blooms in spring with a profusion of aromatic pink flowers, followed by small red berries. Another cultivar, the tricolor dogwood (Cornus florida "Welchii") also has red, green and white leaves that turn red in fall. It blooms with pink flowers and grows to 20 feet. Plant these dogwoods in partial to full shade and moist, acidic soil. They're hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 8.

Plums

For deep color, plant a cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera). This sun-loving tree grows to 25 feet and has red foliage that turns coppery purple in autumn. It blooms with light pink flowers in spring and is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8. Cultivars with red-purple leaves include "Mt. St. Helens" and "Newport," both 25-foot trees that bloom with fragrant pink flowers. "Thundercloud" has red-bronze leaves and blooms with pink-white flowers. The "Blireiana" plum (Prunus x bliereana) has red new growth that matures to red, bronze or green, then turns red again in fall. This 20-foot tree blooms in spring with pale pink, double flowers. It's hardy in USDA zones 6 to 8, and grows best in sunny sites with moist, well-draining soil.

Other Trees

The "Forest Pansy" redbud (Cercis candiensis "Forest Pansy") has red-purple new growth and blooms with clusters of small, pink-purple flowers. This deciduous tree grows to 30 feet with a 35-foot spread and is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Redbuds grow well in a range of site conditions, from sun to partial shade and moist to dry soil. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, the "Grace" smoke tree (Cotinus x "Grace") has red-green spring foliage and blooms with airy pink blossoms in summer. This hybrid tree grows to 15 and needs sunny exposures with well-draining soil.

Shrubs

The summer wine ninebark (Physocarpus Opulifolius "Seward") has maroon leaves that contrast with pink-white blossoms that appear in late spring and early summer. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8, this 6-foot-tall shrub develops the best color in full sun. The "Wine and Roses" weigela (Weigela florida "Wine and Roses") has burgundy foliage and blooms with rosy pink blossoms. This deciduous shrub is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8 and grows to 10 feet tall and wide. Weigelas prefer sunny or lightly shaded sites with well-draining soil. Another red-foliaged shrub, the ornamental peach (Prunus persica "Bonfire") grows to 6 feet and blooms with pink-red flowers in spring. This shrub is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8 and grows best in sunny sites with acidic, moist soil.

About the Author

Based in the Southwest, Linsay Evans writes about a range of topics, from parenting to gardening, nutrition to fitness, marketing to travel. Evans holds a Master of Library and Information Science and a Master of Arts in anthropology.

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